montuori



y' 0, 1929. F. c. MoNTuR 1,722 334 BACKING FOR INTERCHANGEABLE TEETHFiled Feb. 15, 1927 6 7 r 56.5 a 7 /0 /2 /o 6 i? INVENTOR.

'A TTORNEYJI u" Od Petented July 30, 1929.

UNITED STATES FELIX C. MONTUOR, OF W'ASHINGTON, DSTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

BACKING FOR INTERCHANGEABLE TEETI-I.

Application filed February 15, 1927.

The intention rclates to artificial teeth, and has particular relationto hackings 'tor artificial teeth which are utilized in a dcntal emco orlaboratory in cempleting a finished plate, bridgework or dentalappliance from the usual imprcssien which is taken of the mouth ot thepatient primaratory to having the mis:- iug or required tooth or teethbuilt up.

.in the character of bridgework with which the present improvements areusech for .example anterior bridgework, the usual procedure, after theplaster impression is taken ot the patienUs mouth, is to prepare ?fromthe plastcr imprcssion a model ot ph stol' or other compound. This modelordinarily carries abutments or crowns to which the work is :tastened orsolderod and incident to this work the hacl i platcs are permanentlyunited by gold solder or other dental alloy. Each backing plate, thenumber ot which corresponds to the number of teeth necessary in thecomplet ?fil work carries a web or tongue which is designed to registerwith a corresponding groove in the artificial tooth which is removablyai plied to the plate and cemented thereto by the tongue and grooveconnection as a final step in the cempletion of 'the bridgework. In theoperation of selderng these plr-tes or backings together theseartificial teeth may or may not be present and the platcs are arrangedside by side in a suitable body ot plaster or retractory compound tomaintain tl'cm in their proper relation and algnment It will beunderstood that this compound has hardened and the plates or backingsare embedded therein secure against displacement and the opposite cndsof these plates are adjaccnt the abutments or crowns to which the sameare designed to be soldered. Interumliate abutments or crewns may ofcourse be present between the aligned plates or bacl ings depending uponthe nature of a particular hridgework under Construction. it will befurther understood that these abutments or crowns are usuallyconstituted of cylindrical sleeves of gold or other suitable materialwhich when completed are designed to be slipped over or around theanchor teeth in the patient@ mouth. In anterior bridgework these teethmay be bicuspids located On either side otthe patient s mouth nextremoved ironi the cuspids or eye teeth. The

abutn nts or 'crowns to whichtheeuds ot the ha pist/cs a oldered the met-moe ieral Ne. 168 433.

teeth of the patient it being assumed at this time thatthe artificialteeth have been cemeeted or otherwise secured by the described tongueand groove connections to the plates, and further that the plates harebeen securely soidered together with a continuous solder layer ot theproper thickncss.

lViih the hacking plates embedded in the plaster compound and extcndingfrom between the abutments as previously described, it will beunderstood that these plates or back- :ing members are in the form otarc corresponding to the usual curved contour of the human jaw. Thefaces ot the plate to which the teeth are to be applied are embedded inthe plaster preparatory to the soldering operation.. in the usual mannerof soldering bridgcworl ot' this character, the. body plaster orretractory compound is placed on a laboratory bench or stove, and theintel-:s ot the pla es which are usually smooth are itaeing upward. Thealigned plates in the plastcr compound consttute a concave surface andgenerally coni'erm to the curved ridge ot the human mouth. The operationot soldering the plates together is performed by the aid ot a blowpipeand an approved solder ot gold alioy may be employed. This solderingoperation requires a relativcly high temperature and causes the goldsolder to mclt and flow properly. The problem ot obtaining a 'unitormsolder layer over the plates to permauently unite the same by :means ofthe solder a dclicate procedure and must carried out with care and precsiou. The operation requires a considcrable degree ot skill to produce aproduct ot high quality which may be eomtortably worn by the patient,and must theretore be ot substantial uniform thiclness and conforin tothe curvature of the human mouth.

The present invcntion is designed to greatly simpli'ty and improvcpresent u'iethods` ot uuitormly soldering the hacking plates together inthe manner above described with the use ot the usual blowpi pe and goldsolder alloy ot high melting temperature.

One ot the chiet disadvantages hcretetore attendant upon the solderin'operation has been the tact that the gold alloy when melted hy thehlowpipe ten ds to collect in the more or less concave depression at ornear the cente e i th aligned hacking plates; thereby i il superfiuousamoi t ldr i histo it -3 5 lUO Sol-der alone the backing plates at oradjacent the ends or the work. 'llhe problem ot preventing the soldcrfrom co lecting by gravity betore it has had time to solidit'y equallyalong all portions ot 'the aligned backings ol' plates has heretotorerequired a considerabl r amount ot skill on the part of the operator andthe completed work in a large number of instances not characterized byan even distrilmtion of hardened soldcr ot un itorm and properthickness.

A 'turther disadvantu'e attendant upon the solderiug operation has beenthat, due to the high temperature at which the solder mclts and theetlorts ot the operator in applying the same equally along the hackingplates, it ,is Very difficult to insure that a layer ot gold solder oitproper thickncss is l,ein edeposited. This is tor the reason that thebacki'g platcs as betore described, have a conparatively su'oot-hsurface preseutml to the solder. d hen the latter is applied there is nomeans present on or adjacent the plates to detinitely (letermine justhow thick the solder layer is being applied, and it is ditlieult 'torthe operator to -determine whether the layer :is too thick or too thinor whether it is uniform in thickness throughout.

Both of the above disadvantages have been entirely obviated by thepresent improvements. The present inyention resides in the provision otan improved hacking plate having' :tormed integrally therewith orsuitably applied thereto one or more webs, ridges, tongues tins,projections or corrugathms which are located on the heretotore smoothlingual side of the hacking plate and on the side opposite to the usualtongue :tor attaching' the false or artificial teeth. The pro'vision otthese corrugations on the plates or hacking; members serves to ett'cctually prevent the collection ot the solder by gravity in thecenter ot' or at the lowest points of the work, as well as providing; anetl'icient gaugre by which the rcq'ired and proper thickncss ot thesolder layer may be accurately (letermined. The present advantages aswell as other advantages incident to the improvements will hel'creina'tter appa'cnt from the spccilication and claims appcnded.

lVith such objects in View, as well as other ad Vantages which may beincident to the use ot the improvements the inYcution consists in theparts and combinatious thereot'- heroinaitter set torth and claimethwith the understandinr that the several necessary elements constitutine'the same may be 'varied in pro portions and arrangements withoutdeparting; :from the nature and scopo ot the invention.

In order to make the invention more clear ly understood there are shownin the accompanying drawings means tor carrying the same into praeticaleftect, without limiting the improvcmeuts in their useful applications,to the particular cmstructions which, 'tor the purpose ot' explanation,have been made the subject of ilh stration. in the said drawings Fig. 1is a side View ot a body ol" plaster or other retractory compound havingthe improved backing plates constituting the p cnt invcntion embeddedtherein.

Fig. 2 is an enlargcd View ot one of the hacking members or platesillustrated in Fi l and slmwing` the webs or lins soldered or otherwisesecured to one side ot said backing.

Fig. 3 is a side View ot the same showing the interchangeable toothappled thereto on one side thereot.

Fi et is a plan View of the same.

Fig. 5 is a View similar to Fig. 4 showing two ot the aligned backingsjoined together by gold solder.

l ti is a vie\ similar to F 2 showing; the webs or fins pressedintegrally trom the plate.

Fita'. 7 is an end View thei-cof.

Fig. 8 is a View similar to Fig. 6 showing a hacking or plate en'bodyinga modified form ot the webs or tins.

F q'. 9 is an end View thereot'.

Figs. 10, 11, 12 and 13 illustrate turther ziodifications ot' the plateor hacking member.

Referring to the drawings, l indicates the body ot plaster or otherretractory com pound, having its upper surface 2 ot somewhat areuateform to correspond with the shape ot the human mouth.

;ne dental bridgework temporarily embodied in the plaster consists otone or more backins or plates 3 preferably of gold or other appropriatebase metal, and embodying the improvements contemplated in the presentin- Vention. The plates 3 as illustrated are placed side by side andpressed against or embedded in the plaster to insure the plates againstdisplacement prior to the soldering operation. The abutmens or crownsare illustruted at and F and constitute pre terably cylindrical. ortubular portions ot gold. or suitable base metal, which abutments areintended to be slipped over to enclosc the proper anchor teeth in themouth ot the patient and between which the con'plcted bridgeworkincludin the soldered aligned plates, is designed to extend.

The crowns or abutmeiits l: and 5 are intended to be pcr''iauentlyunited to the plates or backing's 3 by means ot ;sold soldcr 3 or otherapproved solder as illustrated in Fiq. 1, and the plates 3 are designedtobe similarly permanently united by the Holder as will also be apparentfrom an inspertion ot said lig ures. The usual tongue 7 for ent a rinrthe artificial tooth, in the enbodiment illustrated, is shown. embeddedin the plaster compound l and assists in anrhoriire` and maintaining theplates 8 in proper relative alignment against the plaster base prior tothe operation of soldering. The usual artificial tooth is indieated at 8and has a suitable grocwe 9 by which the same engages the tongue 7 andis cemented thereto after the seldering operation has been completed andthe plaster base l broken away.

Each plate or hacking member is provided on its reverse or exposed sidewith one or more upstanding ribs webs or corrugations 10 constitutingprojecting ridges which .may be formed integrally with the plate member,or suitably secured or soldered thereto by any appropriate methods.Preferably these ridges or corrugations 10 eXtend in a verticaldirection or longitudinally of the plate as illustrated, andsubstantially parallel to the major axis of each plate member. Thepurpose ot these webs or corrugations 10 is to prevent the solder fromfiowing by gravity in objectionable amounts toward the centraldepression ll (Fig. 1) of the bridgework during the soldering operation.These projections serve to encounter and hold portions ott molten solderwith which they come in contact. The presence ot the solder againstthese ridges assists in maintaining thereagainst further molten solderas the same is applied :from the solder supply and thereby materiallyaiding the operator to uniformly apply the solder to the exposed sidesof the hacking members. The presence of these ridges further preventsundue gravital flow of the solder away from soldered places. Theintermediate position and distribution ot the fins act to preventshrinkage of the soldered peres` heretofore consider-ed a seriousdisadvantage and diiiicnlt to prevent in the construetion of bridgeworkand dental structures of this character.

Tt will be further apparent from the structure as illustrated that theprovision ot these ridges or eorrugations 10 on the exposed surfaces ofthe hacking members 3 serves as an eficient gauge or guide to properlydetermine the thiekness of the solder layer. The ridges are preferablyof a depth corresponding to the desired thiekness ot the solder so thatin order to insure the even distribution of the latter of the requiredthiekness, the operator is only required to apply the solder until thetops of the ridges have been reached. At this time the operator isaceurately informed that the solder has been applied to the desiredunittorm thickness which is the same through out the extent of thealigned backing members and the completed work, after the solder hassolidified, is of suffieient strength to withstand the ordinary usage inthe mouth ot the patient. Said ridges are also useful in case gold iscast on the backs ot the hacking members, insuring the integral union ofsaid east metal and hacking members.

It will be further apparent that the pro 'vision of the ridges 10 on thehacking plates results in the solder 'flow being drawn what by naturalflow between each ridge thereby leaving slight depressions 12 betweeneach ridge, and these alternate spaced depressions in the finished workcorrespond to a marked degree to the natural :term ot the lingnalsurface of the patient s teeth. This results in giving the lingual oreoncave surface of the baekings a natural contour desirable in work oitthis character. This result described is best illustrated in Eigs. 4 and5.

Then the solder has been uniformly applied and solidilied in the mannerdescribed it will be apparent that the hacking members or plates 3 aresecurely and permanently united by the solder, which latter 'furthermoreseeurely unites the abutments or erowns t and 5 to the outermost plates3. The plaster hacking or compound 1 is then broken away and theindividual artificial teeth are applied and cemented to the tongues orprojections 7. The completed work is then ready to be inserted in themouth of the patient with the crowns or abutments e and 5 engaging orslipping over anchor teeth in the mouth of the patient.

From the toregoing it will be apparent that the improved backing plateconstituting the present invention enables the solder to be appliedunitormly without pooling or puddling along any portion of the alignedplate or plates, as well as being equally ap plied with a uniform anddesired tiickness, as well as naturally providing a completed surfacehaving the proper lingual contour. All of these improvements areobtained and ei'l'eeted by the provision of the ribs or webs formedintegrally with or otherwise soldered or Secured to one side of thehacking members or plates 3.

lVhile these projections 10 have been illustrated as two in number oneach plate and described as preterably vertical and entendingsubstantially parallel to the major axis ot the substantiallyrectangular plate, it will be understoml that the irention not limitedto any particular number of these projections, and the same may extendat an angle to or transversely of the plates it desired. The projectionsmay further be constituted of independent or isolated protuberances 13(Fig. 13) instead of continuous webs, as long as they serve to encounterand engage the molten solder and determine its thickness in the mannerdescribed above with reference to the illustrated embodiment ot theinvention. Some of the modifications contenr plated by the presentimprovements are shown for example in Figs. 10 to 13 inclusive. Theinvention contemplates 'further the use ot these projections as ofcurved or sinuous eonfiguration without departing from the nature andseope of the invention as hereinatter claimed.

It will be. :further rmderstood that,

the soldering operation and the removal of the plaster compound base,the edges of the plates 3 are filed away to conform to the confignrationof the tooth cemented thereto. llhe plates or hackings 3 aren'anufactured and distributed in various sizes corresponding to theusnal sizes of particular teeth to be seemed thei-eto. In this nanner infinishing the hridgewm'k, the amount and extent of filing necessary isreduced to a minimum.

The invention will simplify the solderng process of the hridge andeconomizes in the usa of solder.

The metal which unites the hacking plates instead of being appliedgradnally, may he poured into a mold containing the hackings and themolten metal unites securely With the ridgcs ill).

lVhat is claimed is l. A hacking meniher for dental h'ic ge work havingadjacent each of opposite edgcs of its side to which soldcr is to heapplied a projection equal in height to the desired thiekness of solder,said projections serving as a, gage to determine the thickness of solderalong` the line between themselves.

2. A hacking for interchangeahle teeth having a tongue for removahlyengaging an artificial tooth and having on its oppcsite face spaced Wehsfor engaging the solder to ;range the uniform application of the latterto the finished Work.

3. A hacking for interchangeahle teeth l'aving a tongue for removahlye'gaging an artificial tooth and having on its opposite face a pluralityof upstanding portions ex tending sul'istantially the length of thehacking for engaging the solder for uniting the hackings and preventingnndue gravital flow of the solder.

t. A hacking for interchangeahle teeth having a tongue for renovahlyengaging an artificial tooth and having on its opposite face a pluralityof longitudinal npstanding portions for engaging the solder :tor unitingthe hackings and preventing shrinkage of the plate.

5. A hacking for an artificial tooth adapted at one side of itself toreceive such a tooth and having at its other side projecting means hywhich the depth of solder applied to said side can he determined for thelength of the hacking.

6. A hacking; for an artificial tooth adapted at one side of itself toreceive such a tooth and having at its other side a projectingohstructien disposed longitudinally of the tooth and extendingsuhstantiallv the length of the hacking for restricting gravital flow ofsolder applied to said side.

7. A hacking for an artificial tooth adapted at one side of itself toreceive such a tooth and having at its other side an independentprojeeting solid rih disposed longitudinally of the tooth for preventing gravital flow of solder and to prevent shrinkage of the hackingWith respect to the. tooth.

8. A hacking for an artificial tooth adapted at one side of itself toreceive such a tooth and having` at its other side a plurality ofprojecting rihs for showing the depth of solder applied to said side.

9. A hacking for an artificial tooth adapted at one side of itself toreceive such a` tooth and havin at its other side a plurality ofprojecting rihs for limiting the flow of solder applied to said side.

10. A hacking plate for dental bridge Work, having means for attachinga. tooth to the front of the plate and having at the hack of the platemeans independent of such toothattaching means for gauging over theentire hacking the thickness of solder to he applied thereto.

11. A hacking plate for dental bridge Work, having tooth-attaching meansprojecting only at the front of said plate and having at the hack of theplate a projection for ganging over the entire hacking the thickness ofsolder to he applied thereto.

12. A dentare comprising a series of artificial tooth hackings havinglongitudinal projections extending suhstantially the length of thehackings and of a height equal to any desred thickness of solder andsolder applied to said hackings flush With the tops of said projections.

13. A dentare comprising a series of artificial tooth hackings having;lon gitudinal project-ions extending suhstantially the length of thehackings and of a height equal to any desired thickness of solder andsolder applied to said hackinrs fiush With the tops of said projectionsand holloWed between them.

In testimony Whereof I afix my signature.

FELIX C. MONTUORI.

